Ted’s Santa suit ‘lowest one can go’

Related Stories

This note will probably not get posted as it is very harsh and truthful, but I wanted to sent it anyway to express my feeling that have been boiling inside of me for the past three years.

In the case of the poor one-legged Ted/Edward I feel that I must express my opinion.

There are those who sponge on society and will use any means possible to solicit money from unsuspecting/gullible citizens of Burlington and other nearby communities. In my opinion (wearing) the Santa suit is the lowest one can go.

This person’s favorite location to plead for funds is usually at a major food store and LCBO location combination.

I believe the Santa suit is meant to evoke feelings of poverty and caring and how the underprivileged must suffer and to encourage children to plead with their parents to give this poor representative of Santa money.

His representation of Santa is such that he can milk society of their hard-earned money. I have told the vendors where he is busy begging (5-6 days a week) that I will not shop at their locations if he is there.

I have grandchildren with me and they cannot understand why Santa is so mean, nasty, vulgar, smoking and needs money.

I have watched the person in question swear at people who wish to help or ask him about his situation. He does not want their support — only their money.

Don’t believe the letter — as one of your readers has stated — that he is suffering elder abuse. That man is quite the salesman! He has been offered help and a leg, but has refused as it does not fit his lifestyle.

His ‘assistants’ wait in a van for the opportune time to pick him up and assist him before he is aided into his handicap vehicle for his leisurely drive home.

I have a naive, very caring friend who I know gives him $20 every time she sees him. He always says God bless to that person weekly for the last five years.

It states in your paper he (may) make (as much) as $270 a day. The average Burlington senior’s pension is $1,000 per month.

This averages out to $5,400 per month considering he only panhandles five days per week, that we know of, and not considering other locations. This is not including any Old Age Security/CPP or Disability pension. This is not a bad pension top up considering he is supposed to be destitute.

That poor one-legged man has been at more shopping outlets than a compulsive shopper.

He frequents malls from Oakville to Grimsby on a regular basis.

He is especially prolific in his God bless and I need a new replacement leg around Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day. What a coincidence.